The influence of ambient ozone on the incidence of bone fractures especially among the elderly

Med Hypotheses. 1979 Feb;5(2):201-7. doi: 10.1016/0306-9877(79)90119-1.

Abstract

Elevated levels of breatheable ozone will reduce the amount of UV radiation in the range of 280-305 nm reaching the surface of earth. This range of UV converts the provitamin 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D, within the human. Since most typical diets contain low levels of vitamin D, the role of UV related vitamin D synthesis in the skin is considered to provide very important contributions to the total vitamin D content of the blood. Thus, elevated levels of ambient ozone should result in a decreased level of vitamin D synthesis which may be expressed as an increase in the incidence of histological osteomalacia and ultimately bone fractures, especially among the elderly.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Fractures, Bone / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Osteomalacia / etiology
  • Ozone / adverse effects*
  • Rickets / etiology
  • Seasons
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Ultraviolet Rays*
  • Vitamin D / biosynthesis*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Ozone